Sintering-Driven Evolution of Phase, Microstructure, and Microstrain in Perlite-Containing Ceramics

Abstract

In this study, ceramic samples with perlite additions in the range of 0–50% were sintered at 1050, 1150, and 1250 °C to investigate their effects on phase stability, microstructural evolution, and microstrain. The XRD patterns revealed that the quartz-dominant phase environment was preserved, and the broad amorphous hump at 2θ ≈ 8–16° persisted in all groups. Scherrer analysis indicated that crystallite size reached its maximum (11–12 nm) in samples containing 10–20% perlite at 1150 °C, whereas it decreased to as low as 2–3 nm at ≥40% perlite additions at 1250 °C. The Williamson–Hall method demonstrated a pronounced increase in microstrain at 1250 °C, peaking particularly around 40% perlite. SEM-based dark-field (%) analysis showed more compact and homogeneous structures at medium additions (20–40%), while higher additions tended to cause structural heterogeneity. Furthermore, microhardness measurements supported the observed structural trends. Overall, the findings suggest that the optimum microstructural features (10–20% perlite at 1150 °C) were achieved through low microstrain, high crystallinity, and balanced crystallite size, while excessive perlite additions under advanced sintering conditions disrupted the morphology. These results contribute to defining the optimum perlite ratio in ceramic body design.

Keywords

• Crystallinity index
• Crystallite size
• Microstrain
• Perlite-containing ceramics
• Sintering

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that no studies involving human participants or animals were conducted by the authors for this article.

Thanks

This article is derived from the Master’s thesis entitled “Investigation of the Usability of Pumice and Perlite from the Erzurum Region in the Ceramic Industry” conducted at the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Atatürk University (Student: Author 1; Supervisor: Author 2). • B. T. Ceylan (MSc thesis student): Experimental work, XRD and SEM analyses, visualization, writing – original draft. • Y. E. Benkli (Thesis supervisor): Conceptualization, methodology, data interpretation, writing – review and editing, validation. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Perlit Katkılı Seramiklerde Sinterleme Tabanlı Faz, Mikroyapı ve Mikrogerinim Evrimi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, %0–50 aralığında perlit katkılı seramik numuneler 1050, 1150 ve 1250 °C’de sinterlenerek faz kararlılığı, mikroyapısal evrim ve mikrogerinim üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. XRD desenleri, kuvars baskın faz ortamının korunduğunu ve 2θ ≈ 8–16° aralığındaki geniş amorf kubbenin tüm gruplarda sürdüğünü göstermiştir. Scherrer analizi, 1150 °C’de %10–20 perlit katkılı numunelerde kristalit boyutunun 11–12 nm ile maksimuma ulaştığını; 1250 °C’de ≥%40 perlit katkılarında ise 2–3 nm’ye kadar gerilediğini ortaya koymuştur. Williamson–Hall yöntemi, 1250 °C’de mikrogerinimin belirgin şekilde arttığını ve özellikle %40 perlit civarında maksimuma ulaştığını göstermiştir. SEM tabanlı koyu-alan (%) analizi, orta katkılarda (20–40%) daha kompakt ve homojen yapılar, yüksek katkılarda ise heterojenleşme eğilimi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ek olarak, mikrosertlik ölçümleri de yapısal eğilimleri desteklemiştir. Bulgular birlikte değerlendirildiğinde, optimum mikroyapısal özelliklerin (%10–20 perlit, 1150 °C) düşük mikrogerinim, yüksek kristalinlik ve dengeli kristalit boyutu ile elde edildiği; yüksek perlit katkılarının ise ileri sinterleme altında morfolojiyi bozduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Bu sonuçlar, seramik gövde tasarımında optimum perlit oranının belirlenmesine katkı sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Kristalinlik indeksi
• Kristalit boyutu
• Mikrogerinim
• Perlit katkılı seramikler
• Sinterleme

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırma, kamu, ticari veya kâr amacı gütmeyen fon sağlayıcılarından herhangi bir özel destek almamıştır.

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar, bu makale kapsamında insan katılımcılar veya hayvanlar üzerinde herhangi bir çalışma yapılmadığını beyan ederler.

Thanks

Bu makale, Atatürk Üniversitesi Metalürji ve Malzeme Mühendisliği Bölümü’nde yürütülen “Erzurum Yöresinden Elde Edilen Pomza ve Perlitin Seramik Endüstrisinde Kullanılabilirliğinin İncelenmesi” başlıklı Yüksek Lisans tezinden türetilmiştir (Öğrenci: Yazar 1; Danışman: Yazar 2). B. T. Ceylan (Yüksek Lisans öğrencisi): Deneysel çalışmalar, XRD ve SEM analizleri, görselleştirme, yazım – ilk taslak. Y. E. Benkli (Tez danışmanı): Kavramsallaştırma, metodoloji, veri yorumlama, yazım – gözden geçirme ve düzenleme, doğrulama. Tüm yazarlar makalenin son halini okumuş ve onaylamıştır.

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